Police arrest 1, seek 3 people of interest in homicides

Several police officers gather in the parking lot at Parkway East Apartments, at 33 Carver Ave., after two people were shot Sunday afternoon. Shomari Peterson Jr., 17, later was pronounced dead. The other man remains hospitalized in stable condition.
(Photo:
TYLER WHETSTONE/The Jackson Sun
)Buy Photo

Investigators obtained a delinquent juvenile petition charging the 17-year-old with first-degree murder of Peterson and attempted first-degree murder of the injured man.

The injured man remained hospitalized at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital on Monday night. Police would not identify him because of safety concerns.

The Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, which is comprised of Jackson police investigators and deputy marshals, found out where the teen was and took him into custody at 8:30 p.m. Monday. He is being held at the Madison County Juvenile Detention Center pending a detention hearing in Juvenile Court.

District Attorney General Jerry Woodall has indicated his office will file a motion to have the teen tried as an adult.

Investigators continue to seek a second person of interest in the shooting, which was reported at 5:07 p.m. Sunday at Parkway East, at 33 Carver Ave. Thorough search measures are underway to find this person, police said.

Police also were still seeking two persons of interest in another deadly shooting Sunday on North Royal Street. Police have said they don't believe the two shootings are connected.

Police did not name any of the people of interest they were looking for on Monday, but they identified Justin Williams, 20, as the man killed on Royal Street.

Justin Williams
(Photo:
Submitted
)

Police said Williams was shot about 1:26 p.m. Sunday on the 2000 block of North Royal and was pronounced dead at Jackson General.

"Mr. Williams was talking with people outside prior to the shooting, which leads us to believe he knew them," police Capt. Tyreece Miller said.

Miller said the police department does not believe Williams' shooting was random.

"We've identified people of interest and continue to search," Miller said. "There are more details, but I can't comment any further."

Motives for the shootings have not been released.

According to the Jackson Police Department, Williams was charged Jan. 8 with possession of marijuana and schedule II drugs with intent to sell. He was indicted on those charges.

Less than three months later, on March 27, Williams was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to resell and possession of drug paraphernalia. That case was waived to the grand jury on April 24.

The same day, March 27, Williams was charged with aggravated domestic assault. The grand jury did not indict him on the assault charge, returning a "no true bill."

The two slayings bring the total number of homicides in Jackson to 11 for 2014, one less than all of 2013.

To aid those who might feel unsafe due to the shootings, Miller said the police presence has increased.

"We've increased patrols on the streets," Miller said. "The number of hours for a longer period of time."

Anyone with information is asked to call the JPD Major Crimes Bureau at (731) 425-8676 or Crime Stoppers at (731) 424-8477 (TIPS). To submit a tip online, visit jmcrimestoppers.org and click on "web tips."